Liggett shock - Whites’ fans disappointment as top scorer leaves club

The Whites’ frontman was transfer listed earlier this week and quickly became a target for several clubs, with the number 9 linking up once again with former Distillery player and coach Glenn Ferguson at Ballymena, having been signed on an 18 month contract.

Liggett has hit 14 goals for the Whites this season and is one of just a handful of players to have over 50 goals for the club since 1880.

However, Whites’ boss Tim McCann says that he has had ‘tough decisions’ to make as he attempts to ‘shake things up’ in order to save his side from relegation.

The basement club lie four points adrift at the bottom of the league, with just two wins this season.

McCann said: “I have had tough decisions to make. I know some people will look at this and think it’s crazy to let our top scorer go, but it just wasn’t working out for Gary or for us and I have to try to shake things up a bit.

“Gary became a bit stale and needed a fresh challenge. I know people will be shocked, but he has only scored four league goals and that’s just not good enough for someone of Gary’s stature.

“I’m trying to do what’s best for the club,” he added.

Fans have reacted with both disappointment and shock with the decision to move on fan favourite Liggett, with some now fearing the worst.

One fan told the Star: “The Whites are up against it as it was, to lose Gary Liggett it will be an impossible task to avoid relegation, I hope I am wrong.”

Others, however, were looking to the future with the club signing young striker Aaron Boyd (right), who was released by Coleraine.

Commenting on the changes, one Whites’ fan said: “The Whites made a decent signing of young Aaron Boyd...given the chances he’ll score them goals. He’ll be in familiar surroundings as he played with several of the Whites team when at Lisburn Youth Football Club a few years ago.”

Another added: “All the best to Liggett. Hopefully Boyd can help.”

Ged Irwin, a member of the Lisburn Whites Supporters Club said: “Obviously it’s disappointing to see your top scorer going, but you have got to have faith in the management team that they are doing what’s best for the club. Gary has scored three goals in the last 14 matches, so maybe a change will do Gary good and will do the club good.

“We welcome Aaron to the club and hopefully he can do the business for us. I’m sure a change will do Aaron good. He didn’t have too many opportunites at Coleraine, but he seems to have potential and if he can get a regular place in the team, hopefully he can change things for us. We are running out of games and we need to change things as soon as possible.”

Speaking of Boyd’s signing Tim McCann said: “We have brought in Aaron Boyd, so that’s like for like, and Michael Moore from the Amateur League. There are a few others we’re still chasing, and one big one we’re trying to get that could be massive for the club.

“Obviously to bring players in I have to let players go, hopefully I make the right choice,” McCann added.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s Irish Cup match against Coagh United (New Grosvenor, 3pm), McCann was looking for his side to deliver a win.

“We need to get a win,” he said. “It’s a break from the league and I hope we can have a good run in the cup.

“Coagh are no pushovers and are doing well in their own league. We beat them the last time we met them and I’m sure they will try and seek revenge for that. I will take a win of any sort at the minute, the main thing is being in the draw at 5 o’clock on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, the Whites have a rearranged home fixture with Portadown on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick off).

“I want us to pick up as many points as possible,” said McCann. “Hopefully if we can get a win on Saturday it will be the start of things to come.”

In other news, Dermot McVeigh has returned to Cliftonville after his loan spell, whilst Martin Cunningham has left the club and returned to Donegal Celtic.